I have always been on the hunt for great lip tints. I personally don't like the watery or gel lip tints that was all the craze years back because it tends to be drying on the lips. I came across the Ink Velvet months ago but didn't make the plunge to purchase it because I honestly don't need more lip products. I have plenty of them to last me a lifetime. I finally caved in on purchasing this since I have fallen back in love with the Forencos Lips in Love Tint and the 3CE Lip Lacquer in Pink Boom, both of which are tints with velvety textures and finishes. I was looking to get something with a similar formula but in brighter and bolder lip colors. Something similar in the Western beauty market that I really love are the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream and the Bare Minerals GEN Nude Liquid Lip Colors. The Peri's Ink Velvet and Airy Ink Velvet has more brighter shades to choose from for the summer than the NYX and Bare Minerals.

The Peri Pera Ink Velvet is still fairly new although it is not their latest line. I believe the Airy Ink Velvet is their latest launch (don't quote me on that!) which I also recently purchased.

The Peri's Ink Velvet boasts of a a long-lasting, 6 hour wear with a smooth and velvety texture and finish that is flake-free. "The unique formula helps both color and moisture last longer, keeping the lips soft on the outside and moisturized on the inside." It also claims to have higher color pay-off for gradient lip and full-color lips.

Celeb Deep Rose looks exactly as it's name. It is a muted old rose shade that is very neutral and would look good with any skin tone.

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09 Love Sniper Red

Love Sniper Red is a bright red and has a slight blue undertone.

Her's a side by side swatch of the two shades. Love Sniper Red is definitely brighter and Celeb Deep rose is a warm neutral rose shade.

The doe foot applicator is slightly slanted and although the handle is short, it is very comfortable to hold and it is so easy to apply the lip color.

It's true, the Peri's Ink Velvet are very smooth and velvety on the lips, it has a slightly powdery finish and they are very comfortable on the lips. It almost had that whipped, mousse-like consistency. They don't feel drying at all. I've come to find that the 09 Love Sniper Red has a subtle gloss to it which isn't actually bad. I don't like glossy lips but this one is very nice. If a subtle gloss is something you dislike, you can easily blot it off with a tissue.

Let's talk about the long wear claims. For hand swatches, it is definitely a pain to remove. On the lips, I have a bit of an issue. This claims to be a long-wear, flake-free lippie and I don't necessarily think that is all true nor do I think that it is BS. If you put down a very thin layer of this product, you will still definitely get the color pay-off you want and it would indeed last up to 4-6 hours without eating and drinking. It would definitely stay put and you will still have a lip color by the end of the day although it wouldn't be as bright as when you first applied it.

IF, you apply a slightly thick layer of this, chances are you would get crusts around your lips after eating and drinking, which isn't cute at all. The tint would still be there but the color would be patchy on your lips. Little tip here, always make sure that you remove excess product from the applicator before you apply on the lip so that you get an even coat with a thin layer.

Doing gradient lips with this formula is fairly easy as well and I had no trouble. Layering is also doable for a more intense color pay-off but you have to make sure that you blot in between layers to avoid getting that nasty crustiness throughout the end of the day.

Verdict: ♥♥♥♥/5

I really like this product and I have actually worn this quite a lot when I first got them but in my personal opinion the Peri's Airy Ink Velvet wins over this Peri's Ink Velvet. I'll talk more about the Peri's Airy Ink Velvet in another post.

Oh and I need to mention the scent! It's has a sweet berry scent and tastes like it too!

The Peri's Ink Velvet is a win in my beauty book but maybe only a Top 4 for lippies in the same category.

Peri's Ink Velvet is currently on sale for $8 (originally $12) at Club Clio online.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Have you heard of PINCHme? It's this exciting way of PINCHme members to try free samples from brands. Samples range from beauty, snacks, baby, pet, personal care, cleaning products and household items. No gimmicks, its 100% FREE - no credit card required, free samples, free shipping. All PINCHme.com members have to do is review the products that they receive.

> Answer survey questions and complete your member profile (the more you answer questions, the more chances you get to match relevant free samples!)

> On Sample Tuesday (One Tuesday of the month), PINCHme gives you an array of samples that matched you and you are welcome to select the samples that you want to try for your PINCHme box.

> No credit card required, you get your box shipped to your doorstep.

>Review the products you have received. You have 30 days to answer your feedback survey. PINCHme loves your opinions on the items that you try. Constructive criticisms and tips are best! You don't need to have a blog and write about your review, simply go back to your PINCHme page and give your feedback, although social media raves and reviews are definitely welcome. #HappyPINCHer

*Given the 100% free nature of our
platform, we cannot guarantee that all members receive a box on Sample Tuesday.
There are many factors that impact who qualifies for samples, including the
volume of samples we have available and the targeting specified by our brand
partners (at any given time).

PINCHme Sample Tuesdaywill be on June 20 so hurry and sign up and complete your surveys and profile to get the chance to pick your samples on the 20th.

PINCHme Perks

PINCHme is more than free samples! Get special PINCHme Perks including partner offers and exclusive sweepstakes.

JOIN THE PINCHme COMMUNITY

Become a part of something bigger than the box. Join over 2.8 million members across country!

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*I have received these free samples for review from PINCHme*

PINCHme has kindly sent me a Blogger Box which comprises of past and future samples. Included in this box are some items for the June 20th, Sample Tuesday!

Who's excited? I clearly am!

I received a whopping 11 items, the most I have actually received to sample. I'll break down each product for you as some of these I've already tried in the past as well.

I'll start off with beauty and personal care products since that's what gets me instantly excited.

BIORE

I have surprisingly received 4 Biore products and I am ecstatic about it. Throughout the years of blogging, I have reiterated several times how I prefer Korean skin care products than Western skin care products because they are milder and suit my skin really well. I only have a handful of favorite Western skin care products and Biore is actually one of them! I have practically tried all facial cleansers from Biore and I love them all! My all time favorite product is their Blemish Figthing Ice Cleanser mainly because of it's cooling sensation. Sadly, that is not included in this sample box.

Biore Charcoal Acne Scrub

With a combination of salicylic acid and charcoal, it removes dirt and oil build up from the pores. Charcoal draws out the impurities and traps them to eliminate breakouts.

I've tried this one a long time ago and it is a great cleanser for acne prone skin. I quite enjoy this. The charcoal ingredient really works in clearing out the pores although it doesn't minimize it.

>Great for clogged pores, oily-combination skin and acne prone skin

Biore Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub

Powder to foam formula activates with water for a deep clean and gentle exfoliation.

>Great for all skin types, reduces skin texture.

Biore Baking Soda Pore Cleanser

Deep cleans to remove dirt and impurities from the pores.

This provides gentle exfoliation without stripping the skin too much of it's natural oils. It also gradually brightens and lightens up acne scars and hyperpigmentation.

>Good for all skin types, acne scars and hyperpigmentation

Biore Baking Soda Acne Scrub

A combination of baking soda and salicylic acid to exfoliate skin and clear acne. It unclogs pores and balances skin to reduce breakouts.

This is one of my go-to Biore scrubs whenever I get a massive break out which happens once every couple of months. It reduces skin texture, making the skin smoother, and helps hasten the life of your pimple so you get clearer skin in a couple of days.

For years, I have averted to using men's deodorants rather than women's because I sweat too much for a lady. Nothing really worked until I switched over to using men's deos although the clear gel formula never really worked quite well for me. Fresh scent, like. Clear gel, dislike. Sweat test, fail. Smell test, pass. Verdict = 50/100. Personal opinion guys.

Vagisil Odor Block

Gynecologist-tested with a clean, fresh scent that stops oder before it starts.

I normally don't use feminine cleansing products, mainly because I believe in just using mild soap and water so that it won't disrupt my feminine pH balance. However, summer means sweat and what other part of a woman's body is covered up and also sweats throughout the day? Yep. Your pubic region. This product works. Period.

Carol's Daughter Almond Milk Shampoo and Conditioner

Shampoo and conditioner for damaged and over-processed hair. Made with almond oil, aloe butter and proteins, it helps strengthen hair from root to tip and helps to defend against future breakage.

I don't dislike it, I don't love it either. What I don't like about sampling a shampoo and a conditioner in a packet is that I can't really form an opinion on the product because it's only good for one use, the most, two. This product smells great. I'm not picky with my shampoo as I am with my conditioner. I like really rich and moisturizing conditioners for my color treated and damaged hair and although this product specifically targets that area, I think it is not rich enough in my personal opinion.

Bug Protector All Natural Bug Repellent

All natural, DEET-free bug repellent that provides protection against mosquitoes, gnats and other biting insects.

Made from ingredients like Lemongrass oil, Geranium Oil, Peppermint, Cinnamon Oil, Castor Oil and Vitamin E, I already know that this would smell good and would work, The only thing missing from this list of wonderful ingredients is Tea Tree Oil. Sprayed this on the night I received my blogger box because I was grilling barbecue at dusk and I just didn't want any bug bites. My legs and arms survived! No bites, so it does work. And I personally love how this product smells too.

Sweet and tastes indeed like Belgian Chocolate. I love it. Definitely need that protein boost now that I'm trying to get back into fitness.

Quaker Chewy Bites

Chewy, bite-sized granola pieces with chocolate chip.

I love oats and granola bars. It's healthy and fills you up real quick so if you're extremely hungry but you're watching out for your diet, this can be a healthy guilty pleasure. You can't go wrong with chocolate chip granola bites.

Scotch Brite Lint Roller

Remove pesky hair, fur and lint.

Pretty much like any other lint roller. Can't really say too much about it except that it's the branding that you'll be paying for when you get it in retail.

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Are you getting excited now? PINCHme is really generous guys. You get to try the samples that you want from the ones that match your surveys all for free during Sample Tuesdays.

Below is the list of the samples that are going to be available on June 20, 2017, Sample Tuesday, 12Noon EST:

*Given the 100% free nature of our platform, we cannot guarantee that all members receive a box on Sample Tuesday. There are many factors that impact who qualifies for samples, including the volume of samples we have available and the targeting specified by our brand partners (at any given time).

Friday, June 2, 2017

Who has skin issues whenever the weather changes like I do? I'm sure most of you girls do. It is just not easy to take care of the skin when the weather and temperature changes drastically. Back in March, where it was still pretty much winter but it was teasing spring time weather, I got horribly sick and on top of that, the time of the month was coming around, my skin was just not taking any of it. I started breaking out, which is crazy because I like to think I have good skin, except for a pimple or two during the time of the month. Not only was I having major breakout but my skin became bumpy too. I had to do something ASAP, or else I wouldn't feel good about my skin at all.

I've been doing this routine since March and it is now June, so almost three months now. My skin is now free of bumps and pimples and my only skin issues I have left are my huge pores (I'm on another journey to find the best pore minimizing products) and my dark under eye circles which I mostly blame on genetics. I have dry/combination skin by the way. I hope this routine will help you ladies out there who have similar issues. Also, this routine is made up of Korean Beauty products which I find more effective and appealing to my skin.

First thing I did was go to my favorite Korean beauty shop, The Mask Bar Soho in New York City. By the way guys, they changed locations, The Mask Bar Soho is now located at 36 Howard Street, NY, NY 10013. If you pass by, look for Jen and tell her Joanne sent you! ^^ And for those who have been shopping at The Mask Bar at K-town, unfortunately that store has closed already since the building in that area is going to be renovated. I also went to Nature Republic at Union Square to get a few oldies but goodies.

Makeup Removal

I should start off with makeup removal but I ran out of my Nature Republic Aloe Cleansing Tissue for a good month now and I have yet to repurchase it. I've just been using the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelette. I have always used the Neutrogena makeup wipes but after using the Nature Republic Aloe Cleansing Tissues, it just didn't feel as good. The NR tissue is thinner in comparison to the Neutrogena, however, NR Aloe feels lightweight on the skin and removes the makeup as well as, if not better, than the Neutrogena.

Cleansing

The next step is actually cleansing the face. I have been obsessed with the Nature Republic Argan Cleansing Foam. It has a light fragrance which I am thankful for since most cleansers have strong fragrances. You literally need a dime size and it would cleanse your face really well, just ad a little bit of water and it will foam up nicely. I like using the Clarisonic Mia or the Foreo Luna with it (I'll make another post on which I like best between the two). It doesn't strip your skin and actually leaves your skin soft and subtly moisturized. I barely find any makeup residue on my skin, when I do, it's usually mascara or eyeliner that I couldn't fully remove.

Lip Scrub

Before I head out of the bathroom, I like giving my lips a good scrub. I do this two to three times a week since I get really dry lips and we don't want no chapped and dry lips. I use Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub and follow with a tiny application of Aquaphor ointment.

Toning

One of Jen's (The Mask Bar) recommendation is the Holika Holika Skin & Pore Zero Toning Pad. It is basically a cotton pad soaked in a toner. To be completely honest I don't see any difference between using this and other toners however I do like this. I don't have to buy a separate toner and cotton pad and it comes with it's own plastic tong/forcep to keep it hygienic. I didn't notice any pore minimization while I was using this although I like how it does remove those eyeliner and mascara remnants without any burn on the eyes. This is really what I like most about K-Beauty, it is rare for me to try a skincare product that irritates my skin and eyes unlike most Western skincare products I've tried.

Essence

I have first received and reviewed the May Coop Raw Sauce back in July 2015 thanks to BNTNews, and I have been in love ever since. I've gone through 2 bottles already and this third one is about to be finished as well. Of course, I've also tried other essences in between but I always go back to the Raw Sauce. It is so much easier to purchase K-Beauty products nowadays because of it's popularity and the May CoopRaw Sauce is actually available at Sephora. You can apply this with a cotton pad but I actually like just patting it into the skin - I love how it sinks into the skin. It is rich in glycerin so it is an effective moisturizer and reinforces skin immunity. On days that I feel like my skin is just getting too oily, I skip moisturizing and end the routine here.

Masking

Sheet masks are heaven sent! For the first month of doing this routine, I actually masked for 30 days straight! That's a lot of sheet masks but it honestly was worth it and it helped my really bad skin. Lately, I've only been masking once or twice a week. If your skin is in a really bad condition, I suggest that you try doing at least the 7 Day sheet mask routine if you can't do the 30 days. I swear your skin will thank you for it. I picked up several boxes of sheet masks when I was at The Mask Bar SoHo. They have good deals all the time with sheet mask boxes from great brands. My favorite brands are Leaders, SNP and MediHeal.

Pro-tip: Pop the mask in the fridge for about 5 mins before use. This will help de-puff your skin. Leave sheet mask on only at a maximum of 30 minutes or the said time on the instructions. Leaving the mask on for a really long time doesn't help your skin at all since it won't be able to breath with a sheet on top. Lastly, don't throw your mask right away, there's still essence on the sheet so make sure to rub that on your neck and arms before you throw it out.

Moisturizing

After you mask, pat the essence on your skin and let it sink for a good 2-3 minutes before you apply your moisturizer. I love gel and watery type moisturizers during the summer since the skin tends to produce more sebum and most gel type moisturizers are lighter on the skin and helps decrease sebum production. We want our skin hydrated still even if we have an oily skin type so moisturizing is still a must. My favorite go-to gel-type moisturizer is actually the Belif True Cream Aqua Bomb (available at Spehora)and the Yeblang Special A Star Jelly Cream, both I've run out of. My third favorite is the Nature Republic Aqua Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream. I've also reviewed this product back in 2014 for BNTNews and has been a favorite since then.

That wraps up my Night Time Beauty Routine. This routine has worked for me over the last few months and I'm happy to be sharing this with you. Thoughts anyone?